Sveti Nikole
Sveti Nikole (Macedonian: Свети Николе [ˌsvɛːti ˈnikɔlɛ] (
listen); meaning Saint Nicholas) is a town in North Macedonia. It is the seat of Sveti Nikole Municipality and a center of a plain called Ovče Pole (Plain of sheep), famous for sheep farming, lamb meat, and dairy products of all kinds.
According to legend, the town was named after the church of Saint Nicholas (Sveti Nikola), built in the beginning of the 14th century. It is said to have been the biggest of all 42 churches in this area at its time.
There are many archaeological sites in the Sveti Nikole municipality from all ages in the past. The outlying villages of Sveti Nikole include Amzabegovo, with its barely excavated archaeological site, and Burilovci, famous for the magnificent frescoes that adorn its own church of Saint Nicholas.
Demographics
According to the 2002 census, the village had a total of 13,746 inhabitants. Ethnic groups in the village include:
- Macedonians 13,367
- Turks 80
- Serbs 52
- Roma 72
- Aromanians 149
- Others 25
Sports
Local football club FK Ovče Pole plays in the Macedonian Third League (Southeast Division).
Notable people from the town
- Lazar Koliševski (1914-2000) - Macedonian politician prime minister and president.
- Kiril Lazarov (b. 1980) - Team handball player.